HP xb3000 Notebook Expansion Base - docking station

• Average user rating: 2.5 stars out of 20 reviews
• My rating: 0 stars

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• 8 stars

  Verry nice, but lacks AC Power adapter and must pay for extras

  by dfichtner on July 21, 2006

  Pros: Works well and looks great. Perfect match for HP dv2000. No disk installation needed for Pavilion dv2000.

  Cons: Must use laptop AC power adapter or pay another $100 for a spare. Connector not easy to hook in. Must pay $200 more for hard drive dock

  Summary: I purchased this in Korea, where they are about $170, as opposed to $200 after rebate, as they are in the USA. I just got it today, and I already ...

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  Summary: I purchased this in Korea, where they are about $170, as opposed to $200 after rebate, as they are in the USA. I just got it today, and I already like it a lot. The finish is very nice, and it has a metal feel on top, same as the notebook.
  
  I will warn you that it doesn't come with an AC power adapter. You have to use the one from your laptop. Clearly, HP planned this as a way to get you to pay another $100 for an additional adaptor.
  
  Who wants to keep unplugging their notebook adaptor and replugging it when going between work and home? Cheap move, IMHO. The unit, however, seems solid.
  
  There is also a special bay on the right of the machine, which can be purchased for about $200 more. You get a hard drive with that, but it's too pricey, IMHO. I just plugged in a separate USB drive, and call it good.
  
  All of the inputs and outputs seem to work well with my HP Pavilion dv2050us I bought from CompUSA. I am getting a tiny bit of bleed noise out of the S-Video port, however, when I go to my TV. Enough to bother me. I'm pretty sure that I can't blame HP for this, though. The electrical power here is 220v, probably not grounded properly, and I've had problems with hums and stuff coming from other appliances -- poor electrical system in this Korean building. I've had problems with other computers, too. I solved the problem by plugging into my notebook's S-Video. All is just fine when I do that, for some reason I can't explain. The VGA output from the base works just fine, and I love that the system automatically recognizes when you have a monitor or TV plugged in, and they become an option on the Intel Media Driver. Oh, and if your dv2000 notebook came with a remote, you'll find that one button will select between the monitors quite nicely. I haven't had the chance to try the 3-color DVD output, as I don't have the need (or cables).
  
  The keyboard and mouse are wireless. The keyboard has a decent feel. Better than my Microsoft Basic Wireless Keyboard, I am happy to report. The keyboard takes two provided Duracell AAA batteries. The mouse takes 2 provided Duracell AA batteries (or another brand, of course). The keyboard has buttons on top for music, calculator, opening the default mail program, and browser. Also play/pause, volume up/down, and mute. They are automatically recognized by the HP system, and require no disk installation (nice). I was happy to see that I can sit on the couch at least 7 feet away. It has a max range of 10 feet, if you are line-of-sight to the receiver box, which plugs into USB. The mouse transmits out to 6 feet max for me.
  
  The internal Altec Lansing speakers sound decent, but lack bass. It would be cool if they added a subwoofer out to this, or a subwoofer package. Sad thing is, they'd probably want to charge you another $200 for that, too.
  
  The SPDIF audio output on the base is coax RCA, and the notebook SPDIF out is optical. I prefer coax, so I was glad to see they had this as a part of the base set. I am able to feed Dolby 5.1, which is all my system can handle. Not sure if it's 7.1 capable or not, but I think it will output that digitally, if a DVD has it. The dv2000 laptop series does not do DTS, unfortunately -- 0nly Dolby Digital, but I can live with that.
  
  The audio slider controls on the front of the base are the same deal as on the notebook, only bigger. I find they work a bit better than the notebook's, because they are larger. There is a volume slider, a mute, and power on/off/hibernate. There is also a light which glows blue or red telling you if the base connector is installed. The connector itself has a BRIGHT blue light on it, which you cannot miss. It is too bright, really, but I found I forgot about it after a while. You could cover it with electrical tape and not see it.
  
  There are 6 USB ports on the base machine, which is great. Four in the back, and two on the right (if the machine is facing you). There are also headphone and mic jacks next to the two USB ports. The left side of the machine has no ports, and that side can be removed to add the overpriced expansion hard drive you can purchase from the HP website.
  
  Oh, the stand is also adjustable. It seems to adjust well, without being too terribly flimsy. Sadly the DV2000's lid doesn't bend back very far, and I had to put the unit in the flattest position with the lid as wide-open as possible to make for a decent viewing environment. I'm about 6'2" tall, so if you are taller, or your desk is short, you are going to have problems.
  
  Overall, I am very happy with this purchase!

  Updated
  You can also use this unit perfectly with the following: dv2000, dv6000, dv9000, Compaq models V3000, and V6000.
  
  There is an adapter provided so you can use the following notebooks, but with reduced functionality (no VGA out, stereo mic, or expansion base power button supported):
  
  ze2000, dv1000, dv4000, dv5000, dv8000, Compaq Presario M2000, V2000, V4000, V5000, and L2000 series.
  
  I would also like to add that you need to shut power off with either the base or the computer. I yanked out the connector without powering down once, and the internet connection wouldn't work until I rebooted everything again. Oops!

  Updated
  I mistakenly said, in my original post, that it would be nice if HP added an output for a subwoofer. I tried something interesting, and ran from the base unit's COAX SPDIF output to my subwoofer's digital input (must have a digital sub for this). Now, I have a sub. Although the SPDIF signal works at the same time as the onboard audio of the base station, they are out of sync by maybe .20 of a second. So it's really not a useful soluction in any case. If you had a sub with an analog input, maybe you could jimmy something up from this base station, using the analog out for the sub, and the base station's speakers. I have a feeling that might bring out tighter timings, but I am not going to bother. I'll just go straight into my home stereo's COAX input, and turn down the sound on my base station.

  Updated
  Please disregard my comment about the dock not adjusting for a shorter table. Tall people should be just fine, too. It does indeed go all the way flat, as long as you do the adjusting while the notebook is not on the base. It is much easier to adjust without the notebook on it.

  Updated
  I had to totally format and reinstall Windows on my HP notebook because I pulled out the plug while I was in "Hibernate" mode from pushing the Power button (which is really hibernate -- not power) on the front of the base unit. I mistakenly thought the computer was off.
  
  I had a USB hard drive plugged into the base, and had a photo from that drive in-use on the desktop. When I restarted my computer at work, it was locked in an XP error from which nothing would cancel out of (not even CTRL-ALT-DEL). I had to turn off my computer by holding down the power switch. After this, it would not load Windows! Now you're probably thinking, "Oh, just use Windows Recovery Program?" or "Just enter SAFE MODE. Neither option was allowed. The computer just booted back to the bootscreen over and over again. It was totally locked out.
  
  I tried an OEM WIndows XP disk. Apparently, the HP Bios won't allow you to load an OEM version of XP! It says the hard drive cannot be found!
  
  Luckily, I had back-up disks created by HP's backup program. I had to re-format the hard drive using these, and totally reinstall (losing everything I had on my computer). It took me 3 hours!
  
  DO NOT REMOVE THE PLUG UNTIL AFTER A FULL SHUT-DOWN!!!

  Updated
  Hey, check out the bios updates on hp.com to see if you can fix issues related to the base station. I checked my model, and found this:
  
  Release Date: 2006-06-19 Version: F.09
  
  Description
  
  This package contains the WinFlash utility and a System BIOS image for the listed operating systems. The WinFlash utility is used to locally flash the System BIOS (ROM) on notebooks operating in a Microsoft Windows environment.
  
  PURPOSE: Critical
  
  OPERATING SYSTEM(S):
  Microsoft Windows XP Home Edition
  Microsoft Windows XP Professional
  
  
  
  Fixes
  
  
  
  Fixes issue where notebook stops responding (hangs) if the Power-On Password is typed incorrectly twice.
  
  Fixes intermittent issue where the keyboard may stop responding (lock up), if the Caps Lock key and the key to disable the touchpad are pressed at the same time.
  
  
  
  Enhancements
  
  
  
  Adds Brazilian keyboard support for the key that contains the question mark (?) and slash mark (/).
  
  Enhances Wireless/Bluetooth Switch button and LED behavior.
  
  Enables user to Power Off notebook that is docked by pressing the docking station Power button for four seconds.
  
  Enables docking station volume control for notebooks that are docked, even when the notebook lid is closed.
  
  Improves system memory performance.

  Updated
  It's a bit confusing, because the screen says that HP Quickplay does not support DTS. It doesn't support it using analogue output, but apparently does via digital output. I confirmed that because my receiver can get a DTS signal via the COAX digital out of the base, even though the screen says HP Quickplay itself does not support it (by analogue, I guess). So I'm happier.

  Updated
  The base can unplug fine with the unit on, if you are careful. I have done it about 5 times since before, and no problems. The problem I had before came when I did this and I had some windows from the USB external HardDrive open on the desktop, and went into Hibernate, which Windows freaked over once I turned it on minus the HD.
  
  Just be careful to shut down USB hard drives before pulling out the plug, and you should be fine.

  Updated
  I have mentioned that the machine seems to send slightly dirty video through the outputs at times. I had issues with the S-video in a previous apartment, but since I bought a new TV, I don't use the S-video out anymore. The issue now is with the VGA output on the base. I noticed that I get some interference/dirty video from it when the battery on the laptop is charging. Only when it is charging the laptop battery. Kind of a weird bug, but it is there.

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  11 out of 11 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 2 stars

  Stopped Working

  by izzy843 on February 19, 2007

  Pros: Useful while it worked

  Cons: Stopped working correctly

  Summary: I was very excited to get the hp xb3000 expansion base because I prefer a stand alone keyboard and a mouse, but the mobility of a laptop. So this product ...

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  Summary: I was very excited to get the hp xb3000 expansion base because I prefer a stand alone keyboard and a mouse, but the mobility of a laptop. So this product was perfect for me and my new hp dv2000 laptop. It worked well and as I expected for a couple of weeks, then it all of the sudden lost all function except the power. The light on the connector and also the power light on the base were on, but the audio lights were off and the speakers no longer worked, the keyboard and mouse did not work and all items plugged into the expansion base via USB (i.e. printer, PDA) no longer worked. I tried shutting off the expansion base and computer, unplugging everything, etc, but nothing I did would fix these problems. When I disconnected the computer from the base, the laptop sound worked correctly and when the other items were plugged via USB directly into the laptop, they worked correctly too. So it was the base. I called HP and with great difficulty and 1+ hour of my time, due to very heavy accents and transfers, found that they did not even know what an xb3000 expansion base was. I spoke with a customer service rep and then someone in technical support. Neither had a clue. The tech support person even said she was going to discuss with her peers and this still accomplished nothing. They did not have a clue. They were finally able to find the product and said they would send me a replacement, but gave me an expected date of arrival 7 weeks later. So they wanted me to sit, out a couple of hundred bucks, and a product I could not use for 7 weeks. Luckly I had my receipt and was able to return it to the store I purchased it at without penalty (even though I no longer had the box). I'm waiting until they get this thing figured out and some tech support before I even consider buying again.

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  5 out of 5 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 9 stars

  Almost Perfect ...

  by fhd4 on November 4, 2006

  Pros: Almost every thing you need is there with reasonable price. (Check my review)

  Cons: Missing AC Adapter, Problem with speakers when restarting, No firewire, No DVI port,

  Summary: I just bought HP Pavilion dv2000t; it is my first notebook ever after 15 years of desktop computers. So I want it to be a smooth move. One of my ...

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  Summary: I just bought HP Pavilion dv2000t; it is my first notebook ever after 15 years of desktop computers. So I want it to be a smooth move. One of my main concerns while choosing the notebook was the docking station. I was looking for a desktop replacement, and HP xb3000 covered almost 95% of my needs. It has 6 USB ports, Headphone jack, Mic jack, SPDIF Audio output, VGA port, RCA video, video components, S-video, Ethernet connection, Speakers, Volume control, Mute, and Power Switch. It has adjustable reclaim stand, where you can adjust the height of your notebook. In addition, it comes with wireless keyboard and mouse along with their receiver which should be connected to one of the USB ports (I used them for another computer since I already have my Logitech EX300). The xb3000 has a small compartment for optional HP 300GB harddrive kit which I think does not worth the price ($250), I prefer if HP sells the Harddrive kit alone without the 300GB hard disk so I can install my own capacity. Well, you can use an external USB Hard Disk anyway.
  
  I connected 19" LCD to the station where I use it as primary monitor and my notebook as the extended, this way helps you viewing different websites or document simultaneously on both monitors.
  
  Pros: All above mentioned ports connects to the notebook with a single plug. You can use notebook ports as well while docked. In addition, you can use the remote control that comes with the notebook. Also you can use any two video outputs together. The notebook charges while docked.
  
  Cons: No AC adapter included, where you suppose to use your notebook adapter!! I don't know what HP were thinking, it is not practical to remove it each time you want to take the notebook with you!! So I ordered another adapter of course, (I think this what HP wanted). You can add its cost to the xb3000. Another disadvantage, there is no Firewire port, although it is not important to me, yet. But still you can use the one in the notebook. Another thing, while restarting the computer, the speakers make a high knock-like noise even if they were muted. One last thing, forget about connecting your LCD with DVI connection, neither the notebook nor the xb3000 have Digital input (DVI), so you should use the analog (the blue monitor connector).
  
  Overall, I'm very happy with my xb3000. It made my office looks neat.

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  4 out of 4 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 9 stars

  Great product

  by jmcatl on January 15, 2008

  Pros: One plug, very adjustable,

  Cons: Power adaptor not included

  Summary: I've had my HP docking station for a year now. I'm completely pleased with it. No problems at all. The station is very adjustable and allows you to ...

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  Summary: I've had my HP docking station for a year now. I'm completely pleased with it. No problems at all. The station is very adjustable and allows you to put the screen at a great viewing height. I'm say buy it on eBay and save some bucks.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 2 stars

  NOT a Good Buy

  by JackDC on April 18, 2007

  Pros: Expansion Base, if it worked properly

  Cons: VERY Expensive

  Summary: Purchased the xb2000 at the same time as my first hp Laptop (dv4000 series), and within 4 months, the USB ports had stopped functioning. After hp tech support had me ...

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  Summary: Purchased the xb2000 at the same time as my first hp Laptop (dv4000 series), and within 4 months, the USB ports had stopped functioning. After hp tech support had me jump through hoops to assure them that I had everything connected correctly, they instructed me I needed to return the unit for replacement. I never got around to doing that (frustration), and now 9 months later, the xb2000 sits in my basement. I now have a Rolodex wire mesh stand for $25 doing the exact same job the $250 HP product did. My advice-- steer clear of ANY xbXXX products from HP.

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  1 out of 1 users found this user opinion helpful.

• 5 stars

  Took awhile to get it to work, but works great now

  by Robert31270 on November 3, 2008

  Pros: One cable connection to mouse, keyboard, 2nd monitor, network.

  Cons: That one cable is difficult to connect.

  Summary: It took me awhile to get it to work right. I found by research and trial and error that it's the SEQUENCE of the initial connection that counts. The ...

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  Summary: It took me awhile to get it to work right. I found by research and trial and error that it's the SEQUENCE of the initial connection that counts. The manual if clearly R&D'd (Ripped Off and Duplicated) from another HP expansion base, and was not at all helpful.

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• 9 stars

  Almost Perfect

  by alkitran on July 9, 2008

  Pros: HiFi Outputs: Component video, SPDIF. Nice looking, ergonomic, stable

  Cons: No power supply provided, space for aditional Hard Disk should be USB

  Summary: I have almost 1.5 years with this base and it is excellent. I have everytihing plugged to it: USB printer, USB scanner, USB DVD+RW, External USB Hard Drive, ...

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  Summary: I have almost 1.5 years with this base and it is excellent. I have everytihing plugged to it: USB printer, USB scanner, USB DVD+RW, External USB Hard Drive, USB TV Tuner. And the output ports are incredible in my audio receiver. So my notebook 2135la is a real desktop over the Xb3000. Everything works in both Vista or Linux, and even in virtual machines with VMware.

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• 3 stars

  Where is HP Customer Support?

  by david!123 on May 17, 2008

  Pros: good looking, lots of features

  Cons: poor quality, no service

  Summary: I loved the match between my new HP Pavilion and the xb3000 expansion base. It worked fine for about 6 months, but the USB ports have stopped working. I can'...

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  Summary: I loved the match between my new HP Pavilion and the xb3000 expansion base. It worked fine for about 6 months, but the USB ports have stopped working. I can't get any useful response from HP support. I live in Idaho and they suggest I return it to some service depot in Virgina?
  
  HP needs to invest a bit in quality and service and stop trying to get rich quick by acquisitions.

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• 2 stars

  Great Idea - Cheap Build

  by MartinSchn828 on April 27, 2008

  Pros: The Idea Is Great, Lots of USB Ports

  Cons: Very Poor Quality & Workmanship

  Summary: At first I loved this unit. I was able to connect a Wacom, ext HD, Palm Unit & Wireless Keyboard & Mouse with Ports to spare. Additionally, This base allows ...

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  Summary: At first I loved this unit. I was able to connect a Wacom, ext HD, Palm Unit & Wireless Keyboard & Mouse with Ports to spare. Additionally, This base allows you to set your laptop at almost any viewing angle. Too Bad HP chose such poor quality components. About 6 months after purchase, all USB ports stopped working, about a week later the connection port broke on the inside! How does that happen. Trying to get help from HP is useless. Most people you will talk to will not know what an XB3000 is. I have over the past 10 years purchased so many HP products but over the past 3 years I have had too many go bad. I am no longer a beliver in HP and this expansion base is one of many reasons why.

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• 6 stars

  Mixed Feelings so far...

  by G57 on April 24, 2008

  Pros: Came in fast

  Cons: Heavier and larger than I expected

  Summary: The system may turn out to be easy to live with, once I work out some details. It has some control buttons for volume, which work fine, but there are ...

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  Summary: The system may turn out to be easy to live with, once I work out some details. It has some control buttons for volume, which work fine, but there are bars to indicate volume and they do not work. If it were not there, I would not have cared, but since it is, it should work. I have to think about if it is worth the process of repacking it to exchange. Next, the speakers are weak, but fine for general sounds, but the computer's built in speakers are as good. I bought the system with the wireless keyboard and mouse. The batteries fit loose and I had to place a strip of rubber between the battery cover and batteries to hold them in blace. I discovered this when the keyboard only worked upside down, as I checked the batteries and a button was being pressed. I also ordered the expansion hard drive. Just remember to remove the screw on the cover on the base before trying to remove it. The drive took more force to seat than I expected. Clearly, this drive is not meant to be treated as removable media. I used the screw to lock the drive in the bay. That part seems to work fine. One final note, it would have been a nice touch to put a cooling feature in the notebook tray. One may actually fit in the system if it is not too thick.

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